Hybrid Forester sport-ute scores with its versatility

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- I recently had some seat time in a Subaru Forester Wilderness sport-utility vehicle, and if Subaru was determined to instill an outdoorsy feel in a venerable model, mission accomplished.

So, a separate week in a 2025 Subaru Forester Sport Hybrid probably felt like a plate of leftovers, right?

Not even close.

I'm not sure I've ever experienced two genetically linked models that were so distinctly different in ambience, feel and ... well ... just about everything.

While I am sure that the Forester Sport Hybrid would do just fine on an off-road excursion, it had all the personality of the do-everything vehicle.

Motor Trend magazine summed up the 2025 Forester redesign in one sentence: "The Forester needs to look like it can confidently conquer dirt, mud and asphalt, and it has that down pat."

I couldn't agree more.

Sure, I'd take it to the country club -- yeah, like I'm part of that crowd in my dreams -- after a jaunt in the woods.  Naturally, I'd wash it first.  But the point is that the vehicle has everyman/woman road manners.  A pleasure to drive and a highly functional machine in diverse environments.

And then there's the hybrid bonus -- a powertrain matching a 2.5-liter boxer-4 engine with two electric motor generators.  That will get you 35 miles per gallon in the city and 34 mpg on the highway.

But wait, there's more.  Some critics felt that the standard Forester power plant lacked sufficient oomph.  But the hybrid system kicks up the power rating to a combined output of 194 horsepower.  In the tester, that was more than enough to handle all driving encounters.

And from there, it's the usual goodies from the Forester formulators: world-class all-wheel drive, a roomy interior, 8.7 inches of ground clearance and top-tier driver-assist technology.

Freeway cruise? A roll in the mud? Family road trip?  The Forester handles all with ease.

And with the tester's price of $39,415, you're getting a feature-loaded SUV that might find you paying $45,000 to $50,000 at other lots not named Subaru.